Author: Rachel Ravencraft

NMPF convenes states for dairy advocacy

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

By Chris Galen and Paul Bleiberg

Representatives from nearly 20 state dairy organizations met for the 2025 Dairy Association Stakeholder Summit to discuss mutual issues of interest and devise ways to better coordinate amongst each other and with the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) on May 7 in Arlington, Va.

NMPF organized the meeting at its office for the farmers and staff who work at the various state dairy policy organizations. This annual summit brings together leaders from those groups to discuss insights that can help ensure a successful future for the dairy community. Issues discussed at the 2025 state summit included farm bill policy, labor availability and immigration, trade challenges, nutrition policy, environmental regulations, and the dairy economic outlook.

Dairy farmers may have common goals and policy priorities, but each state has its own legislative and regulatory climate. However, state rules are sometimes layered on top of federal requirements and create very different regulatory obligations for farmers, cooperatives, and other supply chain stakeholders. The Stakeholder Summit allows state representatives to report on what their producers are experiencing, giving NMPF the tools and understanding to better advocate for policy solutions that work for all farmers.

Moreover, while federal programs are nationwide in scope, their implementation may vary widely as they are often administered on the ground by state and county offices. For example, the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) safety net rules are standardized, and thus should apply consistently to farmers in all 50 states, but each state has its own Farm Service Agency offices to run the program.

Family dairy farms come in varied sizes and can have unique ownership structures, so a slightly different interpretation from one state-level office to the next can mean two similarly situated producers may have very different experiences under the program. The Stakeholder Summit enables producers to give voice to these issues, positioning NMPF to work with agencies like the USDA to address any inconsistencies in implementing federal programs, DMC, or otherwise.

Lastly, while NMPF is the voice of dairy farmers nationwide, many state dairy associations maintain strong, lasting relationships with their congressional delegations. Local support is essential to securing a representative’s or senator’s support for a cause, positioning state associations to work with NMPF to provide congressional dairy champions the at-home backing they need.

Toward that end, because this meeting is held in Arlington, it affords the state participants an opportunity to visit their respective elected officials in the House of Representatives and the Senate. NMPF staff helped coordinate those Capitol Hill visits for the farmers who came from across the country to the event, where they shared what they learned at the summit meeting and advocated for dairy’s priority issues.

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on May 12, 2025.

Whole Milk for Healthy Kids: Now is the Time

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

After years of patient effort, Congress seems headed for a long-overdue correction to misguided nutrition policy. The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is moving forward, and with it an opportunity to better nourish the next generation of American schoolkids.

We’ve been down this road before. The same legislation passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2023, but the Senate didn’t consider it before time expired in that Congress. This time, Senate prospects are stronger. Last month, the Senate Agriculture Committee reviewed the bill at a legislative hearing, which showcased the strong bipartisan support the measure enjoys.  Its House counterpart committee has already approved it, and we are hopeful for similar Senate action.

After that, the next step is the floor. With overwhelming bipartisan support in both chambers, this legislation is a chance for both parties to agree on something – and that’s too good of an opportunity for Congress to pass up. More likely, lawmakers will want to move quickly, showing their constituents a win on a popular – and important – issue.

From a nutrition standpoint, bringing whole and 2% milk back into schools, which the legislation would allow, is a no-brainer: Kids benefit from consuming high-quality nutrition, and whole milk is a high-quality nutritious food they will actually consume. This is even more important, considering that roughly 90 percent of the U.S. population does not meet current dairy recommendations, as USDA recently told the Senate Ag Committee.

School meals rules in effect since 2012 only allow 1% and fat-free milk options, ostensibly to reduce calorie intake and combat childhood obesity. That oversimplifies the complexities of child nutrition. Whole milk is a rich source of essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D, and potassium, all of which are crucial for the development of strong bones, teeth, and muscles. The fats present in whole milk also play a vital role in brain development and overall growth. Most importantly, kids prefer whole milk. That boosts consumption and reduces food waste. Better used, better-targeted nutrition is a compelling combination the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act would achieve.

Putting whole milk in schools also aligns with the latest dietary science. The demonization of dietary fats, particularly saturated fats found in whole milk, is being increasingly debunked – but the widespread misconceptions they have fostered take time to turn around. Emerging research suggests that saturated fats are not inherently detrimental when consumed as part of a balanced diet; in fact, they help absorb fat-soluble vitamins and provide long-lasting energy that is essential for active children. By excluding whole milk from school menus, we may be depriving children of these critical benefits.

We’re also depriving them of what parents overwhelmingly choose to serve them at home. In 2012, the year changes to school meals guidelines eliminated whole milk as an option, 69 percent of fluid milk bought at retail was whole or 2% milk. After a dozen years of kids being forced to consume only skim or 1%, that percentage rose to 81 percent. It’s time to stop swimming against the tide and align schools with parental choice.

Ultimately, the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is about making informed, science-backed decisions that prioritize the health and future of our children. We’ve been active boosters of this legislation, sponsored in the House by Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, R-PA, and Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA, and in the Senate by Sen. Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Sen. Peter Welch, D-VT, every step of the way. As it moves forward, expect us to be asking for your support. (You can subscribe to our Advocacy Alerts, along with other NMPF publications, here.) This legislation is a meaningful step towards ensuring that every child has access to the essential nutrients they need to thrive. It isn’t an opportunity we want to miss.

The Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act is not just a legislative proposal; it’s a path toward a healthier, more nutritionally sound future for our children. It’s vital that Congress moves swiftly to enact it into law. Our children’s health and well-being depend on it.

Gregg Doud

President & CEO, NMPF

 

Century of PMO and interagency collaboration

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

By Miquela Hanselman, Director, Regulatory Affairs

For decades, the National Conference of Interstate Milk Shipments (NCIMS) has served as a model cooperative program between the U.S. Public Health Service/Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the states, and the dairy industry. NCIMS brings together all dairy stakeholders to maintain and update the Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO), which provides uniform regulations for the dairy industry.

The 39th National Conference on Interstate Milk Shipments met April 11 to 16 in Minneapolis, Minn., to deliberate many important issues facing the FDA’s National Grade A Milk Program and the PMO. Delegates representing 49 states and Puerto Rico attended, along with representatives from the FDA and industry organizations. Attendees reviewed and discussed 81 different proposals for changes to the PMO, eight of which were submitted by National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) on behalf of its members.

The conference provides a unique forum for the industry and its regulators to come together. Sometimes the most valuable advances at the conference do not come from the proposals that pass but from issues that are raised for conference-wide attention.

One issue NMPF brought forward at the conference was the confusion caused by the “Dear Veterinarian Letter” the FDA published October 11 regarding the use of aspirin products in lactating dairy cattle. In the letter, the FDA stated that veterinarians and dairy farmers should stop the use of unapproved aspirin in lactating dairy cattle and use FDA-approved products to control pyrexia and pain. This letter has perplexed the industry for the past six months, so NMPF used the conference as an opportunity to gain clarity from the FDA on its position and ensure that federal regulators are on the same page as the states and industry. Though the proposal that NMPF submitted didn’t pass, NMPF is pleased that the issue was thoroughly discussed and that NCIMS voted in favor of creating a study committee to engage the FDA, USDA, industry, and other appropriate stakeholders in exploring drug and chemical storage requirements and the administrative procedures for unapproved animal drugs, homeopathic/all natural drugs, and medical devices.

NMPF also had favorable outcomes for other proposals it submitted, including a proposal clarifying language around animal treatment record requirements and a proposal updating the rules for cleaning on-farm bulk tanks to be consistent with the rules for bulk milk hauling trucks and trailers.

Leaders from NMPF and its member cooperatives are very involved in NCIMS, and many serve on the NCIMS executive board or on committees between conferences. Brad Suhling of Prairie Farms was elected to the open industry from the central region for the NCIMS board. Suhling previously served on the Single Service Committee, and that vacancy will be filled by Charlie Mack (Prairie Farms). Amanda Rife (Land O’ Lakes) was elected the open industry from the eastern region for the NCIMS board and will serve as chair for Council I, Dave Kedzierski (United Dairymen of Arizona) will serve as the chair for Council II, Damon Miller (Dairy Farmers of America) will continue his term as the chair for Council III, and Clay Detlefsen will continue to serve in the NMPF staff representative seat. Finally, by unanimous vote, Antone Mickelson (Darigold/Northwest Dairy Association) will continue as vice chair of NCIMS executive board.

This year, attendees at NCIMS also celebrated the centennial of the PMO in 2024. The FDA ran a campaign throughout the past year to showcase what 100 years of the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance has done for milk safety in the United States. Other industry partners also celebrated the centennial in different ways, including an award-winning feature story in New York Archives and a deep dive about the PMO in the “Food Safety Matters” podcast.

Protecting milk quality and safety is crucial for public health. The PMO has done that effectively for 100 years, and with continued collaboration through NCIMS, it will continue for many more.

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on May 1, 2025.

USTR Calls Out Misuse of Geographical Indications as Major Trade Barrier

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) said they appreciated the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to spotlight protection of common food names in the agency’s 2025 Special 301 Report released today.

The annual report outlines major global intellectual property concerns. It highlighted the European Union’s persistent campaign to monopolize common names—such as “parmesan” and “feta”— through protectionist geographical indication (GI) policies. These efforts restrict the use of widely recognized food and beverage terms to only specific European producers and effectively cut U.S. producers out of certain key markets.

“The European Union’s approach to geographical indications is entirely unacceptable. It intentionally crowds out fair competition by restricting market access for U.S. and international producers,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. “Too many trading partners have been coerced into imposing trade barriers for products using common food and beverage names. We appreciate USTR’s ongoing recognition of this issue but  urge the U.S. government to stop trading partners to succumbing to European pressures and imposing trade barriers on U.S. products.”

“Europe’s misuse of geographical indications is nothing more than a trade barrier dressed up as intellectual property protection,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “It not only unfairly strips American producers of the right to use common, widely understood terms, but significantly handcuffs commercial export opportunities. We welcome USTR’s focus on this issue and appreciate the administration’s dedication to protecting U.S. market access rights.”

“Last year, the United States imported nearly $3 billion more in dairy products from the European Union than we exported to Europe. Europe’s abuse of the GI system is a significant reason for that deficit,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “EU GI schemes create a two-tiered system that benefits European producers and stamps out competition. We appreciate that USTR is addressing this unfair practice and look forward to continuing to work together to level the playing field for U.S. dairy producers.”

CCFN submitted comments to the agency in January, which broke down the many markets where U.S. dairy producers’ common name rights are being threatened. NMPF and USDEC filed supporting comments noting the urgency for action to address this pressing trade barrier. CCFN Senior Director Shawna Morris built on those comments at a Feb. 19 USTR hearing, where she underlined how the EU misuses geographical indications and why it’s imperative for the U.S. government to match the EU’s efforts on common names.

NMPF’s Jonker, Hain See Bird Flu Lessons One Year Later

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

Dairy farmers have boosted biosecurity and researchers have learned much about the H5N1 bird flu virus in dairy cattle one year after its introduction, top NMPF experts said in a Dairy Defined podcast. Still, the hope is that the virus may leave the dairy herd completely. 

“We’re still learning things about the virus and how it’s being transmitted from farm to farm, and we still need some answers on that, but hang in there, we’re going to get through this,” said Dr. Jamie Jonker, NMPF’s chief science officer. “I do believe we’re going to eliminate the virus from the U.S. dairy cattle population. I think it’s just a matter of when, not if.” 

Since the H5N1 Avian Influenza virus was first reported in cattle in March 2024, more than 1,000 dairy herds have been infected, Jonker said. Still, successful eradication has taken place in some areas, and the lack of evolution of the viruses within cattle has created hope. Dr. Meggan Hain, NMPF’s chief veterinary officer, said biosecurity practices are key to containment and elimination. The National Dairy FARM (Farmers Assuring Responsible Management) Program offers a wealth of materials that can assist, she said.  

Bird flu has “given us a chance to really learn some of the lessons of, where do we have opportunities, where are there things that we’ll want to sort of dig into so that we’re better prepared in the future if we do get challenges,” she said. “I think there’s a lot of things we can take away from this that we can really make improvements on.” 

To learn more about biosecurity responses in dairy, visit the FARM Program website at nationaldairyfarm.com. For more of the Dairy Defined podcast, visit Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music and search under the podcast name “Dairy Defined”. 

NMPF Reaffirms Milk Safety After FDA Program Suspension

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation today reaffirmed the safety of milk, citing the numerous safeguards and rigorous testing procedures still in place after FDA announced a temporary suspension of one testing program, which the agency confirmed played a minor role in its overall food safety protocols. 

“The milk proficiency testing program is a periodic review of the testing capacities of laboratories in FDA’s network, and is not used to directly test milk or other dairy products,” an FDA spokesperson said, referring to its Grade “A” milk proficiency testing (PT) program in a statement shared with NMPF. “The temporary suspension to the Proficiency Testing program does not impact routine testing of milk destined for pasteurization, or milk and dairy testing in illness investigations. The FDA continues to have confidence in the safety of the commercial, pasteurized milk supply.” 

NMPF would like to be clear: The U.S. milk supply is safe. All routine quality and safety checks on farms, during milk transport, and at processing plants are being conducted as they always have been, in coordination with both state and federal partners.

NMPF has full confidence in the state, federal, and industry partnerships that work together to implement the Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, which has kept the U.S. milk supply safe for more than 100 years.  

Can we export out of the glut of cream?

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

By Will Loux, Senior Vice President, Global Economic Affairs

The U.S. dairy market is awash in cream. Elevated butterfat content in the milk, rebounding milk supply, weaker production of full-fat cheeses, and soft demand for cream for food service have created the perfect storm to push butter prices to the lowest levels in nearly four years. Cream multiples are near the record lows of March 2020, even as domestic butter consumption is growing.

The relative weakness in U.S. butterfat markets runs in stark contrast to the rest of the world as Oceania and European butter markets sit comfortably north of $3.50 per pound. The United States’ current discount is such that, even if the White House’s reciprocal tariffs prompt retaliation

against U.S. butter by trading partners, U.S. butter could still be price competitive depending on the level of retaliation.

Given the unusual abundance of supply and price competitiveness, one would expect that U.S. butterfat exports would surge, and, indeed, the trade data suggests they are doing just that. U.S. butter exports more than doubled in February, and anhydrous milkfat (AMF) sales grew tenfold with volume increases of more than 3,000 metric tons (MT) compared to the same month the year prior. In fact, for the first time in more than two years, the U.S. exported more butter than it imported.

Even as U.S. butter and AMF exports surge compared to 2024, the U.S. will still face challenges in exporting to a tighter butter market. For one, U.S. butter typically has an 80% fat content and is salted, compared to the international standard of 82% and unsalted. Additionally, given that the United States has historically been a net importer of butter, the costs of entry to the international market for companies can be daunting. It takes significant investment by suppliers to export, including refocusing sales staff to build relationships with international customers, ensuring your product has correct documentation and labeling, and determining how to navigate an uncertain tariff landscape and sluggish global marketplace.

Given the costs to entry, U.S. butter typically has an extended lag time before converging with global prices compared to U.S. cheese or ingredients, as it takes more time before the United States starts moving butter and AMF overseas. As such, the United States is unlikely to export its way back to a tighter cream market right away.

However, if dairy companies can focus their export investment on building consistent, long-term international business — potentially in countries where the United States currently has a freight and/or tariff advantage, like Mexico and Central America — U.S. dairy farmers and manufacturers would benefit both by having a more consistent supply of butterfat moving overseas to meet growing global demand and by helping ensure U.S. butter prices don’t lag behind global markets for an extended time.

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on April 10, 2025.

Snacks the Way We Like Them

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The Wall Street Journal article last week was ostensibly about Ozempic, and how weight-loss drugs are curbing consumer appetites. But it’s the stats about snacking that stood out. 

According to data compiled by the Journal using Nielsen and BNP Paribas Exane estimates, U.S. snack food consumption is under pressure. Volume sales in 2024 for pretzels and crackers were flat; chocolates were down 5 percent; ready to eat popcorn, were down more than 7 percent. “Craveability,” a food-industry buzzword of the past few years, isn’t craved the way it used to be. Consumers – some of them using medications that limit appetites – just aren’t into gobbling up little pieces of sweet and salty things like they used to.  

But some snack categories are still up. Way up. #1 on the Journal’s list? Greek yogurt, with volumes up 12.9 percent in 2024. Runner-up? Cottage cheese, increasing 11.8 percent. Nutrition shakes and meat snacks also rose.  

The common thread? Protein. And the clear preference? Dairy.  

Turns out that when appetites are curbed, but nutrient needs remain, a nutrient-dense, appetite-satisfying product meets the need. In 2025, highly processed is out; high protein is in. And dairy is meeting that demand.  

Yet another reason to celebrate. So go ahead, indulge. Open that refrigerator, grab a yogurt or a cottage cheese. There are plenty of snack-sized options to choose from. It’s a healthy choice, and a worthwhile indulgence. And when you do that, you’re not just helping a dairy farmer. You’re a trend-setter, too.   

NMPF Celebrates Senate Support for Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The National Milk Producers Federation celebrated strong bipartisan Senate support for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act as senators begin considering this critical legislation.   

In a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry hearing held Tuesday to review the measure, committee members and panelists highlighted the role this bill could have in increasing student milk consumption and nutrition access while also potentially decreasing waste.  

“NMPF commends Sens. Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Peter Welch, D-VT, for advocating for our nation’s students to have more access to nutrient-rich dairy by allowing schools to offer whole milk with school meals,” NMPF President & CEO Gregg Doud said. “We know that Americans are under-consuming dairy products, and as we heard today, students have said they want the milk they are familiar with and that they find satisfying. For many students, that’s whole milk.” 

NMPF also thanks Chairman John Boozman, R-AR, and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, for voicing their support for the bill. 

“We are grateful to Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Klobuchar for convening today’s hearing, and we look forward to working with them and the bill’s bipartisan sponsors to move it forward,” Doud said. 

The House of Representatives is considering similar legislation led by House Agriculture Committee Chairman GT Thompson, R-PA, and Rep. Kim Schrier, D-WA. The bill was approved by the House Education & the Workforce Committee with bipartisan support Feb. 12, and it now awaits floor action. Similar legislation passed the House by an overwhelming bipartisan margin in 2023 but was not taken up in the Senate. 

A Permanent Section 199(A): Now That’s Beautiful

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

The legislation President Trump has called a “big, beautiful bill” is slowly making its way through Washington. The House and Senate have both approved blueprints for the plan, but months of hard negotiations may lie ahead.

And while the tax provisions that make up the heart of the legislation will touch every American, one specific part of it — an initiative called Section 199(A) — is one we’re watching especially closely as talks unfold. We’re working across the agriculture and cooperative communities to get this critical part of the 2017 tax legislation that lapses this year made permanent in a new law. And with tax season upon us, it’s a good time to explain why this is so important for agriculture and dairy cooperatives.

Section 199(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, also known as the Qualified Business Income Deduction, provides a deduction of up to 20% on qualified business income for certain pass-through entities, including partnerships, S-corporations, and sole proprietorships. Dairy cooperatives, which are structured as pass-through entities, benefit from this deduction as it reduces their taxable income, allowing them to retain more earnings, which then can be reinvested into the cooperative.

That’s critical to help co-ops stay competitive in today’s marketplace. When Congress cut the corporate tax rate in 2017 from 35% to 21%, it recognized that other forms of businesses — including cooperatives — should also have an equitable tax reduction. Section 199A does that. It’s helped farmer cooperatives and their owners navigate through a global pandemic, geopolitical conflict, supply chain problems, and record inflation. Allowing Section 199A to expire would raise taxes on agricultural cooperatives and their farmer-owners at a moment of renewed challenges; making it permanent will remove a critical piece of uncertainty for farmers and give them a chance to plan a brighter future.

Including Section 199(A) in tax legislation is critical for the continued economic stability of dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own. It helps co-ops make capital investments. It encourages investment in innovative technologies, sustainable practices, and advanced infrastructure, all of which enables them to produce high-quality products at lower costs. And in the end, that benefits consumers too — by providing them with affordable and nutritious dairy products.

Making 199(A) permanent also supports the whole reason the cooperative system was established under the Capper-Volstead Act passed more than a century ago, by keeping the playing field level with other businesses that benefit from tax provisions other than 199(A). Dairy cooperatives operate on principles of mutual assistance, democratic governance, and equitable distribution of benefits. Section 199(A) aligns with these principles by providing a tax benefit that is shared among cooperative members.

Dairy needs Section 199(A) to thrive. That’s why we’ve been working across not only agriculture, but across the entire cooperative community, signing letters that include signatures ranging from community bankers to building contractors and that cut across the entire U.S. economy. Section 199(A) doesn’t only support dairy farmers of all sizes, in all regions, and the rural communities they support — it ensures economic stability, enhances competitiveness, and serves consumers all across America.

That’s big. And, it’s beautiful. As the bill makes its way to the president’s desk this year, we’ll be fighting for Section 199(A) at every turn. It’s the right thing to do for dairy — and as it turns out, for everyone in our rural communities too.

Gregg Doud

President & CEO, NMPF

 

A win for everyone

Posted on by Rachel Ravencraft

By Paul Bleiberg, Executive Vice President, Government Relations, National Milk Producers Federation

Amid a frenetic daily pace in Washington, Congress is slowly moving toward renewing the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, a major tax legislation that President Trump signed into law during his first year in office. The provisions are due to expire this year. The House and Senate have each approved their blueprints for the plan, but challenging negotiations lie ahead.

The National Milk Producers Federation is focusing attention on one piece: The Section 199A deduction, which is vital to dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own and merits being made permanent in this year’s tax law.

Section 199(A) of the Internal Revenue Code, known as the Qualified Business Income Deduction, was enacted in the 2017 tax law. It provides an up to 20% deduction on qualified business income for certain pass-through entities. It includes the benefits previously afforded to agricultural cooperatives under the earlier Section 199 tax deduction for domestic production. Dairy cooperatives benefit through their domestic manufacturing activity; they can either pass the deduction directly back to their member-owners or reinvest it into the cooperative.

This important public policy boosts economic stability in rural America, but it wasn’t an easy road to this point. Early in 2017, congressional tax writers indicated they were likely to repeal the previous Section 199 that dairy cooperatives had used for many years. Congress believed the previous provision would be redundant because most of the domestic manufacturers that had benefited from it would now benefit from the planned reduction in the corporate tax rate.

This would not have been the case for cooperatives, which don’t file taxes as corporations. Accordingly, farmers were staring down a significant tax increase, so NMPF got to work making a case for the important role Section 199 played in helping ag cooperatives stay competitive in today’s marketplace. House members wrote letters, Senators filed amendments, and stakeholders spoke loudly and in unison in support of preserving the benefits of Section 199.

The result of agriculture’s united efforts was the inclusion of farmer-owned cooperatives in the new Section 199A deduction. Letting it expire this year would raise taxes on dairy farmers and the cooperatives they own while other businesses enjoy continued tax relief. Congress should make this important deduction permanent to maintain certainty for producers and help them prosper in the coming years.

As dairy prepares for the hard work that lies ahead, the agriculture community is again speaking with one voice. NMPF is grateful to the many producer associations, cooperatives, and agricultural partners that have joined a letter in support of making Section 199(A) permanent in this year’s tax legislation. This early strong showing underscores the consensus behind continuing this key policy — a consensus that will be essential to getting the job done.

This column originally appeared in Hoard’s Dairyman Intel on March 27, 2025.